Former Bills wide receiver Andre Reed waves to the crowd at halftime during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 15, 2013. (Photo: Kevin Hoffman Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

Andre Reed, a Buffalo Bills wide receiver for 14 seasons, waits to be called to the podium and accept the nomination to be inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame held at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo on June 10, 2004. (Photo: DON HEUPEL ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed cries after he passed Art Monk as the second leading pass catcher in the history of the NFL with 941 catches during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 2, 2000. (Photo: Don Heupel / AP)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed turns up field after catching a Doug Flutie pass against the New York Giants during the first half Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. (Photo: AP / Kevin Rivoli)

Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) catches a pass for a gain of 10 yards as Houston Oilers cornerback Darryll Lewis (29) moves in to tackle him during a game on Sept. 18, 1994, in Houston. (Photo: David J. Phillip / AP)

Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, left, and wide receiver Andre Reed, right, walk to the Bills residence and registration area with back-up quarterback Frank Riech, center rear, on opening day of Bills training camp at the State University of New York at the SUNY Fredonia campus in Fredonia on July, 21, 1994. (Photo: John Hickey)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) and Keith McKeller celebrate Reed's third touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football wild-card playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park onJan. 3, 1993.The Bills came back from a 35-3 deficit to win 41-38 in overtime. Buffalo's comeback is considered one of the all-time greatest in sports history. (Photo: Bill Sikes AP)

Bill Parcells has some advice for the 17 anxious Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists who await their fate Saturday.

Parcells, who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles and is the only coach to lead four franchises to the playoffs, was almost overcome by emotion when he was elected last year on his fourth try.

Parcells convinced himself it wasn't going to happen last year. He worked out and ran errands before getting the call that cemented his legacy.

"With all the anticipation — it's human nature to try and prepare ourselves for the disappointment of not being selected," Parcells told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "That was the way I was last year. I wasn't selected the year before when I was quite hopeful. Last year, mentally, I was more geared to the possibility of, 'Well, maybe you're not just going to get in.'

"I was better prepared. You protect your emotions a little bit, because you realize you're being chosen from a very large group. And there are a lot of qualified people."

What does it feel like to finally get the Hall call?

"To be recognized in the upper echelon of your chosen industry is a great honor, it's a very exhilarating feeling," Parcells said.

The 46-member selection committee will debate the virtues of the finalists beginning with the senior class candidates, punter Ray Guy and defensive end Claude Humphrey. Then, one media member will extol the merits of each of the 15 modern-era finalists before a cutdown to 10. The debate continues until a maximum of five modern-era candidates along with as many as two senior members are selected by earning 80% of the votes.

Morten Andersen, kicker: A 1982 fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, the Danish-born Andersen played 25 seasons and scored 2,544 points, most in league history. He is trying to join Jan Stenerud as Canton's second pure kicker.

Jerome Bettis, running back: Nicknamed "The Bus," Bettis is a fourth-year finalist. When he walked off into the sunset with a Super Bowl XL ring following the 2005 season, the Detroit native ranked fifth all time with 13,662 rushing yards.

Derrick Brooks, linebacker: Never missed a game in his 14-season career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A 2000s All-Decade selection, the six-time all-pro intercepted 25 passes, returned six for touchdowns, forced 24 fumbles and had 13½ sacks.

Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., owner: He led the 49ers to five Super Bowl titles and hired iconic coach Bill Walsh. DeBartolo was suspended for one year and surrendered his ownership stake after pleading guilty for failure to report paying an extortion fee to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards for a riverboat gambling license.

Tony Dungy, coach: Became the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl, with the Indianapolis Colts after the 2006 season. His Bucs and Colts teams reached the playoffs in 11 of his 13 seasons. Including postseason games, he was 148-79.

Kevin Greene, linebacker: His 160 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and 49ers ranked third all time following his 1999 retirement.

Ray Guy, punter: With a 42.4-yard career average, the six-time all-pro played on three Raiders Super Bowl-winning teams.

Charles Haley, defensive end: Will his fifth-year as a finalist prove poetic justice for the only player to be on five winning Super Bowl teams? Haley finished with 100½ career sacks.

Will Shields, guard: The Kansas City Chiefs cornerstone went to 12 Pro Bowls in a row and was on the league's All-Decade team of the 2000s. Helped pave the way for Priest Holmes' then-record 27 rushing TDs in '03.

Michael Strahan, defensive end: Set the season record with 22½ sacks in 2001. The spiritual leader of the New York Giants' 17-14 Super Bowl XLII upset of the Patriots, Strahan went out on top. He was a complete defensive end and stout run stopper with 141½ career sacks.

Aeneas Williams, cornerback-safety: In 14 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, notched 55 interceptions and was a member of the 1990s All-Decade team.